Murugan, Abhina's Yoga Teacher

Murugan is a young man from Trincomalee. I did wish to publish a picture of him, as he has a gentle nature with enormous inner strength. This can be seen from this unpublished photo. But this internet cafe computer is not too sophisticated....

Murugan is from Trincomalee. North East Sri Lanka, a place suffering from the effects of the tsunami and twenty years of civil war. All his life Murugan has known only war. He has follwed the path of yoga for several years studying with the best teachers he can find when the opportunities arise. Yoga is his heart's path. He has been in Colombo studying with Abhina now for a month, and during this time he leads an early morning yoga class each day for the other students. They find his way of teaching and what he offers benefical and inspiring.

An intelligent, educated man, he has taken the only job he can find in Trinco: a peon. Jobs are few there. He works for an NGO, his work consists of delivering documents and other simple tasks. This pays him RS9,000, about 50 pounds sterling. A month. Mururgan has a wife and two children to support. They are still in Trinco. Murugan reported that they sometimes have to stay with friends and relatives when it is too unsafe in their neighbourhood: when there are shootings, riots or bombs. The peace in Trinco is very delicate. Murugan was friends with the five students recently killed on a beach there.

Abhina now employs him as their yoga teacher. His pay at Abhina is a little more than that of the NGO, and he does get free board and lodging. He will be acting in the production, Mother Courage (showing at The Lionel Wendt Theatre, Colombo, March 30th, April 1st and 2nd, do hop on a plane and come)and be the company yoga teacher for all the rehearsals.

When the production is over, Abhina hopes to be able to find sponosrship to send Murugan to South India for three months so he can deepen his yoga practice, learn at one of the wonderful schools there. This will mean he can teach more widely and start to be able to support himself and his family above the poverty level they live with currently. Further training will give him a future.

Murugan is just one of many Abhina members, young people like him: intelligent, talented yet living in the direst circumstances.

Would you like to help him?

The Abhina Foundation UK supports the work of The Abhina Foundation in Sri Lanka. To contribute, send your donation to:
The Abhina Foundation UK
c/o 8 St Johns Court
Isleworth
TW7 6PA
UK

Please tell your friends, work colleagues and relatives about Murugan and his fellow students at Abhina. Their talent deserves to be nourished. And anything you can offer will be of tremendous help.

I am truly grateful to have met Murugan and his fellow students. They are truly grateful for the practical and spiritual help they are receiving from Abhina. They are using it well.

Visit: www.abhina.org for details of their work.